EMR set up.

[amp713]

I have a feeling some guys are gonna give me some crap for this but........

Finally got an EMR to replace my highcamp 4800. It showed up while i was in montana and by the time i made it home i was headed back to work. I got some buckels, grabbit and lid swapped how i wanted and got it on the frame.

I plan to leave wed after work to go spend a few days scouting, then head to the city for the GFs family get together where i plan to sneak in some hiking and fishing, and then come back home to scout for 2 more days. With all that upcoming i started getting the pack loaded up last night and well........

I fell like its not as spacious as it should be! Idk whats going on!!!


Loaded it without any food or water and didnt find a spot for my sleeping pad yet...... in comparison to my 4800 with an external mounted 1k ci back pouch I feel like i have less useable room without it being way too bulky!!

The outer zippered pocket on one of the wings has my empty dromedary, sleve is holding tent stakes and tripod. The other zippered has vest, puffy, rain gear, beanie, gloves (all of which compress great) and the sleve has my spotter. I have all my other gear in the backpouch still and have it laying horizontal at the bottom of the main bag. Sitting over it is my compression bag with all my camp gear. I tossed in my clothes on top of this just to represent extra stuff like food and when i tried to put it together it felt like the bag was overly stuff and the wing with the hydro bladder was so smashed i have no clue how id ever get drinks from it.

Anyone have any issues like this and find a better way to set it up??? I kinda just took a random stab without much testing... Ill play with it more but i work 6-5 in the middle of the desert so I have all day to think about it so i figured id get some ideas to test tonight.

 

[tipsntails7]

Are you talking about an EMR 2 or the original?

 

[mrbillbrown]

He's talking about the EMR2.

I'm not sure what to say that might help. I love my EMR2 and it seems to pack well for me with my stuff. I'm a new aspiring backcountry hunter and my gear is a hodgepodge of hi tec lightweight stuff and bigger heavier items that will need to be upgraded after this first elk trip. Maybe some pics of your items or a list might help the experienced guys give some advice. I pack the bag, pad, puffy clothes on bottom and work my way up with heavier items in the middle or top of my main bag. The wings hold my spotter and tripod and things I might need quickly or frequently. Guide lid holds rain jacket and beanie, gloves, etc. Everything works well so far on my training hikes and overnight "practice" trips. Sorry I'm not any help but keep playing with the bag. It's an awesome design.

 

[PMcGee]

I just got mine yesterday and I haven't had a chance to play with it yet. I was able to fit all my gear for an 11 day hunt in my BT2 so I don't think I'll have a problem fitting it in EMR2. I don't run a spotter though. Did you watch the videos of Aron packing it?

 

[weaver]

I can't imagine filling mine up with just gear.

 

[ahlgringo]

Had 7 days gear, an 8 man tipi, and half a goat in mine last year- room to spare.

 

[amp713]

Oh its not full, but its not fitting in there.... not bulky??

its hard to explain and pics didnt really help but without any food or water my pack is already sticking out wider than the 4800.

I think im going to move my drom into the main bag, and use the zippered pocket it was in to hold my tent/bag. Just shove it in there instead of shoving it in a compression sack. Then move everyting in the main bag to sit vertical instead of stacking it flat horizontally. See if that lets me suck it in a bit more.


Weather is supposed to be bad so I may end up staying at the cabin tonight instead of hiking all the way in, give myself one more night to tweak the pack set up.

 

[mrbillbrown]

Think I get what you're saying. The emr2 looks wider than the 4800. You're probably right. IIRC, the emr2 main bag is around 5000ci and each wing is 1200ci. So.... When you fill up the main bag and both wings it should be 6-10" wider looking than you're 4800 w/o any side pockets.

Am I on the right track?

I had to play around with packing some to get everything situated just the way I wanted it. But after repeatedly putting stuff in and taking stuff out I realized I shouldn't worry about how it looks and just enjoy the awesome functionality of the bag and its many features. It carried the same way every different load I gave it. Work on the vertical packing and keeping things centered without cramming the middle bag full then adding full wings and it might help with the look and feel you're trying to get.

 

[Floorguy]

Aron said in the videos the main bag is @6k ci.

 

[mrbillbrown]

Thanks floorguy. Couldn't remember the amount. Appreciate the info